Daily Archives: April 26, 2026

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – The Blessing of the Lord

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Read Ruth 4:13–15

In American culture, the bride and her family have historically planned most wedding details. The bride chooses the colors, décor, and—of course—the dress. She is the focus of the celebration. So much so that many people call the wedding day “her day.”

Marriage ceremonies in the ancient Near East were quite different. Both families negotiated the terms, and the responsibility for establishing the new household fell to the man. So it makes sense that in verse 13, Boaz is the subject of the sentence. He was the primary actor, and he wasted no time in marrying Ruth. In a seemingly unromantic report, the narrator simply and succinctly says, “Boaz took Ruth.” The verb reflects the Israelite custom of the man “taking” his wife into his home.

In a more passive posture, Ruth “became his wife.” She received this significant new title and position, thus completing her incredible social journey from “foreigner” (2:10) to “servant” (2:13) to “wife” (4:13). After their union, “the Lord enabled her to conceive” almost immediately (v. 13). This stood in stunning contrast to her ten years of infertility in Moab. Importantly, in this clause, the Lord is the subject and the actor. The Lord alone was responsible for this pregnancy. Blessedly, this child fulfilled Boaz’s prayer for Ruth in 2:11–12 and the elders’ and all the people’s prayer for Boaz in 4:11–12.

The women of Bethlehem joyously celebrated with Naomi. This scene runs parallel to 1:19–22 where the women welcomed Naomi back to Bethlehem only to receive her bitter complaint of emptiness. Now, their focus is her redemption and renewal. She, who was empty, is now full. The Lord is acknowledged as the source of blessing and provision. God has provided a new go’el in this child and through the hesed love of Ruth who gave him birth.

Go Deeper

Take time to acknowledge the Lord’s work in your life and the lives of those around you. How has He blessed you?

Pray with Us

Dear God, You blessed Ruth with a child. At the same time, You blessed all humanity, as you were creating the genealogical line of Your Son Jesus. Holy Spirit, reveal God’s blessings and His work in our own lives.

Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer.Ruth 4:14

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Restoration Efforts

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Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Today’s Scripture

Ezra 2:68; 3:1, 3-7

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Today’s Devotion

In April 2019, a fire broke out in Notre-Dame de Paris—the city’s famed medieval cathedral—destroying the spire and a “forest” of oak beams supporting the lead roof. Almost immediately, plans formed to restore the cathedral. Donations poured in from across the globe, and craftsmen have undertaken restoration using the same building techniques and the same types of timber and stone employed in the original structure.

When Nebuchadnezzar instructed his armies to set fire to God’s temple in 586 bc as part of his siege on Jerusalem, the structure was decimated (2 Kings 25:9). When the people returned to Jerusalem after decades in captivity in Babylon, they “gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God” (Ezra 2:68).

After tending first to the altar, they “gave money to the masons and carpenters” and secured “cedar logs by sea from Lebanon” to lay the temple’s foundation (3:7). Though their rebuilding efforts were opposed and even sabotaged, the task was finally completed, and God’s people once again worshiped Him in His temple (6:14-22).

As believers in Jesus, we—together—are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). God equips us to continuously restore fellow believers and “build each other up,” not with wood or stone, but with encouraging words, prayer, and spiritual gifts (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Reflect & Pray

How are you building up fellow believers in Jesus? How has someone built you up recently?

Thank You, loving Father, for supplying what I need to build up and restore others as Your temple.

Today’s Insights

Just as God equipped the leaders and priests to encourage the Israelites (Ezra 2-3), throughout the ages, He’s equipped others to be encouragers. A prime example is “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus,” better known as Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). God used him to speak on Paul’s behalf to the disciples, who were fearful because of the apostle’s former role as persecutor of the church (9:1-4, 26-28). Barnabas also taught the believers in Jesus in the church of Antioch, where he “encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (11:23). Later, Barnabas sought out and brought Saul to work with him. Just as God gave others the tools needed to encourage others, He can do the same for us.

The words we speak can encourage or discourage, so we need to choose our words wisely.

 

http://www.odb.org

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Watchers

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven.” (Daniel 4:13)

It is only in this chapter of Daniel (see also verses 17 and 23) that certain angelic beings called “watchers” are mentioned. Whether the term applies to all God’s holy angels or only to a certain order of angels has not been revealed in Scripture.

However, we do know that at least some of the angels, if not all of them, are intensely occupied with observing events among humans here on Earth. For example, Paul said that he and the other apostles had been made “a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9).

The word “spectacle” in this verse is actually “theatre” and is so translated the only other time it is used in the New Testament (Acts 19:29, 31). It is sobering and surprising to realize that Christians—especially Christian leaders—are on a stage, as it were, being carefully watched by an audience that even includes the angels.

Paul also cautioned Christian women to maintain a covering on their heads “because of the angels” (1 Corinthians 11:10). Perhaps the watching angels are also included in the great “cloud of witnesses” who observe us as we “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

But why should these mighty angels, these “holy ones,” these heavenly “watchers,” have such a “desire to look into” these things here on Earth (1 Peter 1:12)? Perhaps they are anxious, like us, to “see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians 3:9–10). HMM

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Celebrate Change

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Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

As children of God, we can be thankful for the change God works in our lives. Throughout our journey here on earth, God’s Spirit will be working with and in us, helping us change for the better. In order to make progress, we need to be open to God’s work and be obedient to His guidance.

God wants us to see truth (reality) so we can agree with Him about any change that is needed, but we don’t need to punish ourselves when we see our faults or to feel guilty and condemned. We can submit to God and learn to celebrate the changes that happen in our lives. Change and growth is a healthy process that God will continue as long as we are on earth in our human bodies. Transformation is something to be grateful for!

Prayer of the Day: I thank You, God, that I don’t have to be afraid of change, but that I can rejoice in it. Help me to be open to Your leading. I am grateful for Your work in my life.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org